The male line on my father’s side, the Spence family, have lived for centuries in a 30 mile radius of Knottingley in Yorkshire. They are commercially minded, earning their living wherever there’s money to be made, epitomising the phrase “where there’s muck there’s brass”. Not high profile, not wealthy, but generally end their lives better off than they started them through hard work, a willingness to take risks, and an astute investment of money.
The Spence family stories begin with the current generation, my own wife and children, and go back through the male line through my father and back.
In amongst these stories are those of some of the notable families that married the Spence ancestors.
Places We Lived
In the last few centuries, the Spence ancestors haven’t moved far, almost exclusively within Yorkshire, and generally within a 30 miles radius of Rawcliffe. I’ve collated old photos and postcards for some of the places they lived which I will continue to add below – click to take a look at more.
My Research Trips and Visits
I continue to visit the places our ancestors lived, and I’ll continue to add them here.